Eyes of Darkness

I had a grin on my face; this was it! I had to prepare myself because my response to Mr. Tanaka's invitation was going to be epic.

"Umm...," I hesitated, causing Mr. Tanaka to look at me with concern.

What's wrong with me? Why can't I just say "no" to reject his offer to join the math club? I had to give it another shot.

"N... n... n-"

But the words just wouldn't come out. Mr. Tanaka couldn't help but smile, and he started speaking.

"Has your mouth suddenly forgotten how to say 'no' and reject my invitation?"

I covered my mouth with my hands, realizing that something more than mere luck was at play.

The reason I couldn't say "no" was because of this black aura emanating from my left eye. Why did it suddenly appear? In my vision, I could see a dark, highly determined mood. What did this mean?

If I recall correctly, I used this aura when I was about to confront Yurina and during the quiz, when I was determined to score a 12/20, a passing grade in a math quiz.

Could it be that the swirling black aura in my left eye is related to my past? The first appearance of it was not during the quiz or my encounter with Yurina.

I remember the darkness I felt six years ago when I was left alone to live, where I punched a mirror in rage.

Could it be a trigger or an early sign of a symptom? Could my family leaving me have triggered all of this—the day I felt utterly alone?

Suddenly, Sir Tanaka interrupted all of my thoughts. It seemed like he understood what I was thinking and the cause of my concern.

He picked up a pen marker, spun it in his hand, and pointed it at me. His eyes were clear, as if he was sure of why I couldn't say "no" or reject his offer to join the math club.

"It's... instinct."

"Instinct...?"

Sir Tanaka wrote 'INSTINCT' on the whiteboard in huge capital letters with the pen marker. Then he turned to me again.

"Basically, instinct is the determination, how focused you are on making something happen. Just like your left eye now, filled with darkness, your instinct doesn't want to reject my invitation. It seems your instincts desire something more than your dreams—not just 'more,' but something greater, beyond the peaks of your imagination."

"Greater than what I dream of?"

"Yes, Ced. I'll ask you again, will you join our math club or not?"

As I contemplated my answer, I could still see the dark black aura enveloping from my left eye.

I knew Sir Tanaka couldn't see it; he could only see that my left eye were filled with darkness but not the black aura.

However, within the darkness of my eyes, it suggested one thing.

"Accept the invitation and embrace a different persona. Wouldn't it be exciting to have two personalities? One as a background character and the other as a mysterious person who challenges the students. Just like the light novel you adore, 'The Crimson Cloak: The King of Darkness.' If that mysterious persona is like the crimson-cloaked protagonist, a role that isn't quite a hero or a villain but is intriguing and cool, wouldn't that make life more fun than being just a one-dimensional background character?"

I couldn't help but agree. My instinct seemed to be right. Being just a background character isn't enough for me.

But having a second persona, a different perspective where I could be mysterious and cool, people would wonder, "Who are you?" as they sought the face behind the mysterious person.

And if I were to defeat someone effortlessly, they would say, "How... No, this can't be! There's no way I could lose; how is this possible?"

Those words would be so cool, like they were genuinely in awe of my strength. I thought about how I'd respond if such a moment arose.

Should I laugh because I was the strongest or say something deep and profound that would resonate in their hearts?

However, I knew myself well enough to acknowledge that I was a bit selfish. Who in their right mind would want to be both a background character and a mysterious person at the same time? But that uniqueness was what drew me in.

Summoning my courage, I grinned at Mr. Tanaka and extended my hand for a handshake as I made my decision.

"I will join the math club."

"Good choice, Ced. You've made the right decision."

Mr. Tanaka extended his hand for a handshake. After the firm hand shake, I adjusted my hair and looked at him with my left eye filled with darkness.

"However, I have one condition, Sir Tanaka."

"And what might that 'one condition' be for joining our club, Ced Nakano?"

I covered my face with my hands, creating a mask-like effect, and replied mysteriously.

"Prepare two acceptance papers for joining the math club, because it won't be just one person."

Mr. Tanaka chuckled, clearly amused.

"You're good at giving hints, Ced. Not bad at all. I'll prepare two papers."

I turned and walked out of the classroom, waving goodbye as I made my exit.

"Alright. I'll be taking my leave now, Mr. Tanaka. See you tomorrow."

"Goodbye, Ced. It's been a pleasure talking with you."

With that, I walked away, descending the stairs and heading to the Ouran Academy Dormitory Building.

I knew I'd be the first to reach our dorm room, but I didn't have the card to enter. It wasn't my fault; the card was always with Kaori or Luna, though I wasn't sure which one of them had it.

So, I would have to wait outside room no. 30, our dormitory room, for them to finish their meeting. It might be a bit of a hassle, but it was my only option.

—————

As Ced Nakano left the Class 3-A classroom, Sir Tanaka smiled and grabbed his phone from his left pocket in his pants.

He walked over to a nearby window and made a call to the chairman of the Ouran Academy, who was also the owner of the school.

"Good afternoon, Sir Tanaka. Did it work?"

"Yes, Chairman Hoshikawa, it works. He accepted the invitation."

A CCTV system had been installed in the Class 3-A classroom after the class that took place before Ced's encounter with Sir Tanaka.

This setup allows the higher-ups, including Chairman Hoshikawa, his staff, and the two influential conglomerate families, to closely observe the events unfolding in the classroom.

"That brat's eyes get incredibly dark when he's serious."

"Oh, Chairman Hoshikawa, do you call him a 'brat'?"

"Yes, he's still a brat, Sir Tanaka. What was that brat's name?"

"It's Ced Nakano, Chairman Hoshikawa."

"And Chairman Hoshikawa, the audio from the CCTV is audible, not just visible. They heard our call, so you might want to tone down your voice and address Ced more formally. They'll hunt you down if you keep calling him a 'brat'," Sir Tanaka added.

"My apologies; I can be forgetful sometimes. I sincerely regret my actions. As the Chairman of the Ouran Academy, I express my deepest apologies." Chairman Hoshikawa apologized, raising his voice louder so that the CCTV could hear it, considering the two powerful conglomerate families who were currently listening.

"I hope they will forgive you, Chairman Hoshikawa, this time. They might let it slide, but there won't be a second chance."

"Yes, let's hope so. It would be quite troublesome to have those two influential families against me."

"Now, I must hang up the call because I have some teacher duties to attend to and some papers to prepare. Goodbye, Chairman Hoshikawa."

"Goodbye, Sir Tanaka."

With that, the call concluded, and Sir Tanaka sighed contentedly as he gazed at the whiteboard with the word "instinct" on it. A smile crept across his face.

"He really has those eyes. That's why he's drawn the attention of these two conglomerate families."

"The power to conquer anyone with his instinct—those eyes are truly... intimidating. Those determined eyes could overcome anything in his path, as long as things go in his way," Sir Tanaka mused seriously.

Sir Tanaka made his way to the teacher's desk, sat down, and opened a drawer containing the arranged papers. He picked up two "Math Club Sign-up forms" and smiled as he contemplated.

"I wonder what pen name he'll choose. Ced, you're indeed an intriguing student."

—————

In the opulent Hoshizaki family mansion, at 4:30 pm, Kosuke Hoshizaki, the Head of the Hoshizaki Family, was engrossed in his private study room.

The room exuded opulence, adorned with timeless elegance that bore witness to generations of affluence and power. Surrounded by sprawling gardens and grand oak trees, the mansion was a testament to the family's grandeur.

Kosuke himself, despite being in his forties, appeared much younger and was often mistaken for a man in his mid-twenties.

He wore a well-tailored suit, a crisp dress shirt, a silk tie, and polished leather shoes. His study room was a testament to his diverse interests, with a collection of books ranging from manga and light novels to strategy and mindset books.

Kosuke also had three large TV monitors in front of him, connected to CCTV cameras throughout the Hoshizaki family estate, the Ouran Academy, and Class 3-A in particular.

As he monitored the screens, a knock interrupted his concentration.

"Open," Kosuke said.

The door creaked open, revealing Shizana, his secretary, a beautiful woman in her thirties who appeared much younger. Her blonde hair accentuated her youthful features.

"Master, there will be an urgent meeting, and someone is here to visit your private study room," she informed him.

Kosuke raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Hmm? Who could it be, Shizana?"

"that would be..." Shizana began but was swiftly interrupted as a red-haired man in his thirties entered the room. 

He had a beard and wore an expensive brown suit, his right wrist with a dazzling 24-karat gold watch. He cast a discerning glance at Shizana.

"Shizana, please inform your master that you'll be leaving. We have some private matters to discuss," the man declared.

Kosuke Hoshizaki acknowledged the visitor with an air of familiarity.

"I didn't expect to see you here, Ren Sato."

Ren Sato leaned against a nearby bookshelf, a wry smile on his face.

"Well, I went to your company's building earlier, but you were nowhere to be found. Have you become so overwhelmed that you can't even step out of your own family estate, Kosuke Hoshizaki?"

Kosuke shook his head, setting the record straight. 

"I wasn't hiding. I had some paperwork to sign. Besides, I did watch it earlier on TV. Quite an interesting turn of events."

"Ah, so you watched it?"

The conversation was becoming more revealing of hidden secrets. Kosuke turned to Shizana and dismissed her, giving a signal with his hand.

"Shizana, you can go back. I'll call you later if I need anything."

Shizana respectfully bowed and left the room, closing the door behind her. Ren saw the opportunity to ensure their privacy and locked the door, making the room feel more enclosed and secretive.

The tension in the room was palpable, and the conversation was about to take a revealing turn.

"Ced has certainly grown up, Kosuke."

"Who would have thought he'd come this far?"

"Alright, alright, Kosuke. Let's drop the act of innocence. You've been keeping an eye on Ced ever since you saw him at the supermarket last six years just because of his darkened eyes. You even hired spies to keep tabs on his condition all this time."

Kosuke pointed a finger at Ren, his expression serious.

"And you, Ren, remember when you gave a million yen to Chairman Hoshikawa to ensure Ced's admission to Ouran Academy? You also personally sent an invitation letter to Ced's house, making it seem like his parents paid for the enrollment fees when they didn't. From his parents' perspective, they thought they were just giving him a weekly allowance."

"Simply put, Kosuke, we both played a role in shaping Ced's path. No more pretending we were unaware of his situation," Ren conceded.

Kosuke concurred, "Yes, we helped him because he's a worthy investment."

Ren's grin widened, and he changed the topic, revealing a different side of Kosuke, as he grabbed a copy of "Crimson Cloaked: King of the Darkness" volume 19 from the bookshelf.

"Kosuke, don't you have any plans to finish this?"

Kosuke shook his head, his expression troubled. 

"No, not now. The controversy surrounding the author hasn't died down. My pen name is still under suspicion of being tied to one of the conglomerate families, and it's all thanks to you, Ren."

Ren replied in a nonchalant tone, "Oh, Kosuke, are you blaming me now? It's in the past, during the era of 'eliminating a conglomerate family,' that I had to make your other identity public."

The other identity of Kosuke Hoshizaki, the head of the Hoshizaki Family, was that he was a light novel author, known for his one and only light novel, "Crimson Cloaked: King of the Darkness." Unfortunately, Ren had spread rumors linking the author's identity to Kosuke. To deal with the controversy, Kosuke decided to put the series on hiatus, waiting for the rumors to die down.

"If I ever discover one of your dark secrets, Ren, I won't hesitate to reveal it to the world as revenge," Kosuke declared.

"Because there's no one in the head of a conglomerate family who is entirely clean. Sometimes, they have hidden dark secrets, and I would be the light to unveil yours, Ren," Kosuke added.

Ren challenged, "If you can, Kosuke."

Switching the topic back to Ced, Kosuke and Ren shared their thoughts.

"Ced's abilities are on the rise. Remember how we both observed those intense, determined eyes of his while he watched my anime six years ago? If that level of determination and instinct leads one of our conglomerate families and our group, success would practically be guaranteed."

"At first, I thought Ced was delusional, but when you said that his determination and dark eyes could take one of our companies to the peak of success, I started to believe in you," Ren admitted.

Kosuke nodded, "You should, Ren. My gut feeling about Ced tells me that. As a light novel author, I've never seen anyone else among my fans with such darkness and determination in their eyes. Only Ced can do that."

They then discussed the ongoing competition between their daughters, Luna and Kaori, to win Ced's heart.

"About the competition, I'm quite certain Luna is winning," Kosuke asserted.

Ren retorted, "You're showing too much bias to your own daughter. The truth is, Kaori will win, and Luna will cry so hard that you'll need to console her."

Kosuke challenged him, "Show me proof, Ren, that Kaori is leading."

Ren was confident, "No proof is needed. I'm sure Kaori will win. But honestly, Ced is a tough nut to crack, not easily swayed or won over."

Kosuke agreed, "Yes, he is. But someday, he'll choose one of them, and the winner will lead their company to even greater success, becoming a company that will never be defeated and always stay at the top."

Kosuke and Ren smiled competitively, each putting their trust in their own daughter to be the first to win Ced's heart.